Rolling strikes are planned at a Sunderland school over a proposed merger which union bosses say would harm teacher’s “health and wellbeing”.

Members of NASUWT at Highfield Community Primary School will be carrying out industrial action on Tuesday 16, Wednesday 17 and Thursday 18.

It is the latest stage in an ongoing dispute over plans to form a partnership between the Ford Estate school and Valley Road Community Primary School as part of the Iris Trust.

Additionally, NASUWT say they have lodged over 100 grievances regarding “adverse management practices” against the “management” of the school during the period between September 2016 and February 2017.

The teaching union say they met with the governing body last week but were unable to resolve the dispute which has already led to three days of strike action.

John Hall, national executive member for NASUWT, said: “The strike action is necessary because the governing body have not assured us that they will not seek to merge as an academy by July 1.

“Our position is that the present proposal is not fit for purpose.

“There have been adverse management practices in place since late 2016 and we want that to be addressed.”

In a message to the parents of children whose schedules are likely to be disrupted by the strikes, he said: “We never take industrial action lightly and we have been trying to resolve this since October 2016.

“This is unfortunate but no teacher should have to go to work and fear for their own health and wellbeing.

“Happy teachers mean pupils get a good education.”

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A spokesperson from Sunderland City Council said: “Following the meeting with NASUWT on May 9th, the governing body of Highfield Community Primary School is continuing to work to seek a resolution to the situation.

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“The governors are keen to ensure that any decisions taken on the future of the school are centred around the best interests of current and future pupils.

“Highfield has continued to remain open throughout the strikes, with the majority of staff continuing to come into work as normal.”

Although both sides are working towards a solution, the union have laid out plans for further strikes.